'He was always funny': Leslie Jordan, popular entertainer in Palm Springs, dies at 67

Leslie Jordan, the Emmy-winning actor best known for his roles as Lonnie Garr in "Hearts Afire," Beverly Leslie in "Will & Grace," and most recently Phil in "Call Me Kat," has died. He was 67.

His agent David Shaul confirmed his death to USA TODAY in an emailed statement Monday.

"The world is definitely a much darker place today without the love and light of Leslie Jordan," Shaul said in a statement. "Not only was he a mega talent and joy to work with, but he provided an emotional sanctuary to the nation at one of its most difficult times. What he lacked in height he made up for in generosity and greatness as a son, brother, artist, comedian, partner and human being. Knowing that he has left the world at the height of both his professional and personal life is the only solace one can have today."

Local drag personality Bella da Ball said she was "devastated to hear of (Jordan's) tragic passing" on Monday.

"He was such a delight. Such a funny, warm, charming man," Bella da Ball said. "We both loved the song 'Looking For A City' by Happy Goodman family — a real mover of a song with big hair, clap and a 'bring it on sister!' I was thrilled to be at the Square Dance convention with him here in Palm Springs. He was a giant of a man in comedy, humanity, (in an) entertaining way. He will be truly missed. Such a star, such an enjoyable person to watch."

Jordan, who stood at 4 feet 11 inches, was popular in Palm Springs and performed several one-man shows in the local area. He also appeared in drag personality Trixie Mattel's 2022 reality TV series "Trixie Motel," among a handful of lifeguards trying out for a position at the renovated Palm Springs hotel.

Jordan also hosted DAP Health's 2016 Steve Chase Humanitarian Awards. DAP Health Director of Brand Marketing Steven Henke said he "admired how (Jordan) brought visibility to the LGBTQ+ community through his unforgettable roles."

During a visit to Palm Springs In 2021, Jordan took to Instagram with a video that showed him standing in front of director Del Shores' star near Palm Canyon Theatre.

Jordan appeared in Shores' 2000 film "Sordid Lives" as Earl "Brother Boy" Ingram. He described the role in the video as a "Tammy Wynette-obsessed drag queen who gets put in a mental hospital."

"I'm just wondering why he got a star and I didn't?" Jordan said before spilling some of his beverage on the star with an "oops."

He then walked away, asking, "Anybody got a jackhammer?"

According to Se Layne, co-artistic director of Palm Canyon Theatre, Jordan was supportive of Shores and the theater's productions of "Sordid Lives" and said "Our audiences just adored him and ate him up."

"Leslie was so positive and giving, fun and creative. And, he was the same to everyone. He treated everyone with kindness. It didn't matter what position they held or if they were known, if they were management or in the chorus," Layne said.

Local comedian Shann Carr crossed paths with Jordan and recalled a moment working backstage at "Dancing With The Desert Stars in 2011 when Jordan was one of the celebrity judges. Carr, who was wearing headphones and a microphone, heard Jordan tell one of the dancers, "I wish I was half as tall as you."

"I blurted out, 'You are exactly half as tall as him' and everybody could hear me," Carr said. "He also wound up in my pink RV to get dropped off at the Steve Chase Awards one year. It was like having a Tasmanian devil inside that vehicle with all that energy coming off him."

Palm Springs resident Hank Plante, a former TV reporter, recalled Jordan joining him and a group of friends for dinner a few years ago and described him as a "delightful man."

"He was always funny," Plante said. "Even at a small dinner party, he had wonderful stories to tell."

The beloved actor and comedian had a decades-long career on stage and on screen, appearing in a slate of films including "The Help," "The United States vs. Billie Holiday" and "Fear Inc." He played Earl "Brother Boy" Ingram on stage in "Sordid Lives," and later took the role to the big screen for the film of the same name.

His TV roles showed his comedic range and he took scene-stealing parts in "Reba," "Sabrina the Teenage Witch," "Monk," "George Lopez," "Ugly Betty," "The Secret Life of the American Teenager" and more.

When asked in 2013 by Coachella Valley Independent how he chooses his roles, he said choice didn't come into play.

“Honey, if they offer it to me, I do it,” he said to Coachella Valley Independent. “I have to. There’s no plan, and there’s no, ‘Oh, am I attracted to this project?’ At my level, if it’s offered to me, I have to do it. I ain’t no Tom Cruise — but I’m a whole lot of fun. Sometimes I think I’m the biggest whore in Hollywood: 100 bucks a day and a square meal, and you’ve got me! Pay me the money, and I’ll be like an aging show pony.”

The Chattanooga, Tennessee native, who won an outstanding guest actor Emmy in 2005 for "Will & Grace," most recently starred opposite "Big Bang Theory" alum and star Mayim Bialik on "Call Me Kat" as the newly single head baker at Kat's diner. The Fox sitcom was renewed for a third season, which premiered in September.

Speaking to USA TODAY at the White House Correspondents' Association dinner in April, Jordan showcased his happy-go-lucky attitude: "When I first got the invite, I thought, 'Oh, why me?' And I talked to friends and they said, 'You know what, Leslie? It's an evening unto itself: There's comedy, there's politicians ... you see celebrities.' And I thought, 'Well, why not?' So I'm just here with eyes wide open."

The Southern character actor also became a social media sensation in recent years. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Jordan documented his time in quarantine and his hilarious and relatable rants on Instagram captured collective hearts around the world. He broke the sameness by posting daily videos of himself on Instagram.

Many of Jordan’s videos included him asking "How y'all doin?" and some included stories about Hollywood or his childhood growing up with identical twin sisters and their "mama," as he called her. Other times he did silly bits like complete an indoor obstacle course.

Earlier this month, he released a gospel album, "Company’s Comin,'" featuring Dolly Parton, Chris Stapleton, Brandi Carlile, Eddie Vedder and Tanya Tucker.

His 2021 memoir, "How Y'all Doing? Misadventures and Mischief From a Life Well Lived," reached the USA TODAY Best-Selling Books list.

Previous reporting by USA TODAY was included in this report. 

Desert Sun reporter Brian Blueskye covers arts and entertainment. He can be reached at brian.blueskye@desertsun.com or on Twitter at @bblueskye. 

As the philanthropy and special sections editor at The Desert Sun, Winston Gieseke writes about nonprofits, fundraising and locals who give back. Reach him at winston.gieseke@desertsun.com.

This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Actor Leslie Jordan dies at 67; remembered for positivity, humor